Daily Drawings – September

I decided to follow Lisa Cogdon’s daily drawing challenge in September… Here are the results!

As an artist I can’t get enough images, so I love looking at other artists’ daily drawings online. August Wren‘s daily paintings are a favourite. I draw most days, but I don’t achieve a completed drawing or sketch everyday. I enjoy the freedom and flexibility of doing my own thing, without pressure. So it was quite clear that a daily drawing challenge wasn’t for me.

Lisa Cogdon’s daily drawings challenge

Well at least it wasn’t for me until I watched Lisa Cogdon‘s daily drawing challenge on Creative Bug… and changed my mind. Lisa says daily drawings help you develop your own style. I am always keen to develop my style further and decided to follow her 30 days drawing challenge in September.

How I worked

The prompts on Lisa’s daily drawing challenge are quite varied. I found some more inspiring than others. To give unity to the project I worked as follow:

Used 5″x7″ paper for all drawings

Pre-painted backgrounds lightly in watercolours

Used black pen, more watercolour and a white gel pen to draw and paint the art work

I drew directly in pen so any bent lines and other ‘mistakes’ just stayed as they were

I posted each drawing on social media – The likes and comments kept me going (I had thoughts of giving up the challenge a few times)

I like some of the drawings better than others. But that’s fine – daily drawings are quick studies rather than completed art work, so they can’t all be happy experiments. I enjoyed when possible drawing from life more than from reference photos. There’s plenty for me to work on too. For instance, I don’t feel I can draw only from imagination without any reference at all… and that’s something I would love to be able to do!

What I learned from my daily drawing challenge

Quick lettering – I found a style of lettering and got quicker and more confident with it

Discipline – I had not much time to procrastinate if I wanted to complete a new drawing every day. The challenged forced me to make time to draw on days where I might have ‘rested’

Un-inspiring subjects can be fun and make an interesting drawing – it’s up to you what you do with the prompt!

Have I developed my own style further? I am not sure.

Would I do a daily drawing challenge again? Yes, but not just yet. It would be a fun way to explore new mediums. But I had to put other projects on hold to complete this challenge and can’t wait to get back to them.

Here are all 30 drawings!! If you have time, please tell me which ones are your favourites in the comments at the bottom.

PS: Some of the original and prints are available to purchase from my Esty shop.

Sophie Peanut is a sketch artist and illustrator based in Halifax UK. She works in pen and watercolour. Sophie loves urban sketching, drawing people and landscapes and likes to illustrate recipes. She also teaches drawing and painting online.

This is an awesome collection! I did a #sketch365 project last year, drawing every single day for a year, so I get the part about the social media comments keeping you going! My faves – apples (I work for the Town of Apple Valley, and have a small collection of original art featuring apples). I also love the kitchen collection! Spices, forks, salt & pepper. I have the perfect spot in my kitchen for that whole set! Put these up for sale and I’ll take several!

Definitely the bees; I love bees! I have to say, they are all great….I love the boots too and the jugs….and the brushes…if I keep going, I’ll end up naming them all. Love your work, so fresh and smile making! X

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About Sophie Peanut

Hi, I am Sophie. I am an artist and illustrator and live in Halifax in the UK. I draw and paint with watercolours, pens and pencils. I carry a sketchbook with me at most times. I use it to sketch my life and the world around me. I like illustrating my favourite family recipes too!